Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
FORMER Sports Minister David Coltart has torched yet another explosive racism storm in Zimbabwe cricket – just days after the Chevrons enjoyed their best run at the T20 World Cup.
The Chevrons transformed themselves into the toast of the country with their success in India and Sri Lanka, where they reached the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage, for the first time.
They wrote the fairy-tale success story of the tournament by topping their group and beating former champions Australia, and hosts Sri Lanka, along the way.
The success enabled the Chevrons to qualify for the 2028 T20 World Cup and helped them win the respect, around the world, which they had lost as they struggled in the wilderness.
For the first time in decades, the whole country united around the Chevrons and, after years of failure, they transformed themselves into a team which was a symbol of success.
However, Coltart, who has a history of boardroom battles with the Zimbabwe Cricket leaders, decided to find some faultlines, created by imaginary racial divisions, within the Chevrons.
It all unfolded on Sunday.
It started with a tweet from a handle, run by someone called Maita Dziva, questioning why Ben Curran was not given a chance to play in the dead rubber final match against South Africa.
“I honestly thought that today was a good day to play Ben Curran. Zimbabwe just missed out on a perfect opportunity to get things and theories right,” read the tweet.
Coltart’s reply was a shocker.
It torched a Twitter storm and dragged the ghost of racism into the Chevron’s beautiful World Cup adventure.
“Sadly, he (Ben Curran) was the wrong colour,” said the Bulawayo Mayor on X, in his reply.
His insinuation was that Curran, who was drafted into the team as a replacement for the injured Brendan Taylor, would have been included in the XI who faced the Proteas if he was black.
For a team whose three star players – Brian Bennett, Blessing Muzarabani and skipper Sikandar Raza – represented virtually all the races which make this country, Coltart’s remarks were an insult to the racial harmony, which the Chevrons displayed throughout their campaign in India and Sri Lanka.
Coltart has a history of ugly boardroom battles with the ZC leadership.
In August last year, ZC accused Coltart of a “relentless smear campaign” against their black administrators.
ZC claimed this was fuelled by “personal bitterness and racial prejudice.”
The ZC bosses claimed Coltart’s criticism was “disguised as the voice of concerned cricket lovers” while he was pushing “a deeply divisive and damaging narrative.”
They also accused Coltart of being part of the people who piled pressure on England, forcing them to boycott their World Cup match against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2003.
Coltart dismissed the accusations.
Interestingly, on the same day, Coltart praised the Chevrons for their dream World Cup campaign.
“Well done (Sikandar Raza) and the entire team. You done our nation proud,” Coltart tweeted.
Against that background, his decision to bring the ghosts of racism into the Chevrons’ World Cup campaign was quite disappointing.
By yesterday, his tweet had been viewed 34,000 times.
Here are some of the responses on X to the firestorm which Coltart triggered:
There is racism in ZC we can see it, same with the under-19 disease, (it) still exists
If you don’t put your best men you not going to win. Look at South Africa playing on merit. – @Ree20716538
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So you still carry the Rhodie mindset? – @FNC921
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I guess he (Curran) is less white than Bennett. – zorowevhanhu
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Stop being emotional, reposting every Twitter trolls. – Chikomana
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Very disappointed in you David. This is getting out of hand. – Matike Baloyi
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I didn’t know you would stoop so low to say such thing as a Mayor. – thabo96
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Be careful u r formenting racism! – Ched Matsvina
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Racism is a backward mentality, and should not exist in our modern society! Our selectors should accept that cricket is a sport for white people. End of story! – Changamire Dombo
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This doesn’t bode well with the office you hold your worship. – DE BOOZAR
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It’s a pure joke, Curran we stand with him as a nation. – KELLZ tv
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For you Mr Mayor, it’s too low. – Bibi WeMaCheatCodes
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Senator apa marasika. – Zibha
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We achieved our greatest outcome in many years without Ben Curran, this is behaviour unbecoming of the mayor of a major Zimbabwean city. Read the room. – David Peters
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Get a life wena. – @OneAfricanaCity
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You still have time to delete this. – Titus Chigodwe
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Wakura Davi, zvimwe nyarawo. #Notoracism. – GiftMhlanga
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Don’t be a Twitter troll, you’re are a mayor. – Amal
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Sowing division in the team. – Livison Chipatiso
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Iwewe sometimes don’t tweet. – Slimsem
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Reverse racism has killed our game. – Ntokozo
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Are you ok Dhivha? – Chitova WeMapfungavutsi
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They will call you a madman for saying it as it is. – Eddie the introvert
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You’re exhibiting your racist thoughts. – alextonhod
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This is low. – cee kay
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You are 100% right. – Mzukuru
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You’re being racist. – Maxwell Mpofu
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Vanhu vasina minda monetsa. – WeRiSe
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Well said mayor. – Nigel
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You are a racist David. – Chief MUKARO
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David has been advancing race divisions and tribalism agendas lately. – Mr Hove
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This is why we love you Mr Mayor you call a spade a spade. – @zondo_sikhumba
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You are a lawyer. Where is your evidence to back up this assertion? – Dr. Nhlanhla Dube
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delete this. This is a deeply unfortunate post. – M Mbeta
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Nah don’t try to impose your superiority white skin nonsense. Don’t stain your post-independence legacy (identity). Nativity must be respected (good or bad), you as a public figure should refrain from picking sides based on racial lines, these statements do not help you in any way. If you think this way, we made a mistake in electing you to be the leader of this great city, the City of Kings and Queens (black & white people). – Richboyx
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Whiteness has this incredible ability to make itself seem innately exceptional. Even the seemingly progressive ones will wade into the waters of white supremacy when it suits them. What a disappointment. – nina lovehall
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Haikona kupata iwe! – SAMANYEMBA
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The coach has the same colour as him (Curran) and he has the final say. – Duchess of Sport
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That’s too low for a person of your position. – Cash talk
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David, don’t be irresponsible. Be respectful and act and talk like an elder please. – Dr Mathias Dzobo
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What do you mean? Isn’t this racist? Your skin colour plays cricket? What about the selectors and coaches? What about those chosen? STOP IT mhani. I actually thought you were one of the good ones. – Iam
YindaTe
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I wonder if you were saying the same in 1998 when we had at most 3 black people playing cricket… – Tate_Manjoro
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You’re being racist. – Maxwell Mpofu
I think those who see him as a man worth a position of leadership should not complain. Who doesn’t know Coltart’s background and history. The man has blood of our brothers and sisters he killed during the liberation war dripping from his hands to this day. It’s unfortunate that we have a section of our population so engrossed in petty politics that they rather associate with our former oppressors than support those who liberated them. How could people like Coltart end up a mayor of an iconic city of the liberation struggle like Bulawayo?